Molding machine



Jun; 24, 1930. SCRUGGS Re, 17,711

MOLDI NGV MACHINE Original FLled Dec. 20', 1923 5 sheets sheet l .50 2.9 E ii w"Wig!!- INVENTOR.

Fan/1 A. 5171 2 5.

A TTORNEYS June 24, 1930. SCRUGGS Re. 17,711

MOLDING MACHINE 1% .9 25 f INVENTQR.

WWI/

ATTORNEY-5.

F. A. SCRUGGS MOLDING MACHINE June 24-, .1930.

F K A 5 INVENTOR. /"d77 C/"U 5 BY Original Filed Dec. 20, 1923 5 s e s t 4 ATTORNEY.

Reissued June 24, 1930 ANDERSON SCRUGGS,

PATE NT MQFFIGE 'LOS ANG ELES, CALIFORNIA MO ING MACHINE pglginal -Nq.;;1,674;,229, dated J'une;19,.1928, Serial No. 681,813 ,fi1ed Decemben 20, -1923.- Application for reissue mea- July 25, 1

This inventionrelates t0 dough molding machines for molding dough into roll ,or, loaf I. "form. and. has for .its.,prin1ary -object the, pro- I vision of a machine; of i this, character ,having novel means which gives to .the machine ,wide

i latitude of adj nstrnent ,so that the. dough can lee ,shapedjoIprovide rolls or, loavesjof such 1; eon r'ner cialior ewell known. styles asrespectively char'acterizeFrench and Vienna bread French jrolls, finger r ollge etc and a which,

' inth ee ghrt s w delati u e o a jus a d? 1 thejjinterohangeability of \parts of the ma chine; will; enable one. to nold doughinto practically,tall shapesethat are; required in I I the art of hommereial baking. My ,machine w is, so designed. and constructed whereby dough oan be implded into a. massor, bulk ofthe. same thickness throughoutebluntatats ends, such aspan bread, ryebread etc., and of a;prede-;

enter ai d-F ee A; ne h r bi t emte t1 n s 9 PTO uide, machine wherein: satisfactoryprovi- I sion is madefor shaping and oiling the dough (aucti n l tening; an ai in sa i h 011 s eneor, hoth sides, such-aspracticed in making i s-"What ek own, as tP-ar reh u r l n p-.-

kin; rolls, fancy breadseandtvarious kinds; of .ofie e goodsand French pastries;

Aiurt r bje t .Q he ve i i Q'P go vide a machine .of' this eharacter for oiling,

spleens end-mules d ugh n; m ki i .-I,mp r l s, mfiee e s, Fren h, pa i t Astill furtherobject of, the invention s to provide a machine vvhi,ch;can beo quickly ad T jgsted or set. for forming rollsonloaves into I respectively difierent lengths andv Whose ends can bepointedto suit varyingrequirements. A still further objeet -oitheiinvention 1s to proyide a; maehineuof this ehai aoter ,h avingt 40 neanswherebyflourgor oileantbe .distributed .jto th e dough atthe proper time and place and ewhichr said .means is adjnstalole to allow the peratortonse the-exact amountofoilvorcfiour 1 he desires.

A Another object of the-invention is topro;

Q29.;,Seria1 No.; 381,058.

vide a machine having a novel form of belt formed of, one pieceof material and arranged to co-a ct with arsetof Inpld boards in such manneras induce and maintain uniform pressure against the doughandfor ,rolling the ,dough into atight, mass.

i w A notherobject of theinvention is to, provide a positively acting mechanism for. coiling. a batchiofdoughand for progressively increasing the compacting effect ofthe niechanism against the dough. as the latter moves continuously through the mechanism.

A further object of theinvention isto provide a doughhandling and formingv orlshapingj machine which includes superposed mold surfaces Which are relatively adjustable and associatedwith a,dough carrier or conveyor so that and according to the amount of pressurmbrought tobear, against ,the dough through adjustments of said surfaces, the dough will be, molded to assume its intended shape through effective Contact With the upper oneofsaid surfaces.

Another objectof the invention is to provide a machine of this character embodying .so lidifyf said, mass beforesubjecting same to the action ofthe molding or shaping surfaces.

Another object of the invention is to pro- ,v de a nachine of this character wherein the dollghgfiattening,rolls are associated with seraping means that will keep .the rollsefree;

fromdough at all times and permit the intended mass of dough to work past the rolls without interference.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine] having dough flattening means consisting of rolls which act to pull a dough and deposit same upon a traveling belt preferred Figure is a vertical longitudinal section. through the'machin'ey Figure 6 is a plan, view of a portion of the machine showing the parts on an enlarged scale; I I

Figure 7 is a longitudinal section taken on line 77 of Figure6;

Figure 8 is a plan diagrammatic View of certain of the mold elements the top mold-' board being removed; a 1

Figure 9 is a section on an enlarged scale through the dough flattening, dusting and spicing'or oiling means;

Figure 10 is a of Figure l;

ingpbox and one of its rolls;

Figure'll is a perspectiveview of the coiling mechanism;

Figure 12is a view in elevation ofthe dustigure 13 is an end view thereof; I

Figure 14 1s a perspective view of one of the top molding boards;

Figure 15 is an inverted perspective view of another form of top molding boards;

Figure 16 is a perspective view of'the'coiling mechanism looking at its oppositeend to that shown in Figure 11; a I t Figure 17 is a plan view of the lower molding board audits supporting frame;

Figure 18 is a side view thereof; Figure 19 is a diagrammatic illustration of a number of forms of rolls and loaves that can I be rolled by my machine. I v

In carrying the invention into practice, I employ a suitable base frame, table or similar structure 20, which rises to a height where the various working parts ofthe machine will be disposed in convenient reach of the operators.

J ournaled to revolve in the frame 20 are front and rear rollers 21 and 22 which may be driven in any suitable well known manner.

section on the line 10 -10 y "sald roller 43- and said section 25.

An endless carrier belt 22 passes over these rollers, and, as shown in Figure 5, this belt is formed fromvone piece of seamless material. The lower lead of the belt is supported by an idle roll 23. The upper lead of saidbelt freelyextends over a lower mold surface or board 24, the latter consisting of sections 25, 26 and 27 These sections are mountedupon a vertically adjustable frame 28 having adjusting means 29 co-acting with the base frame 20. In order that the sections 26 and 4 27 can be independently adj usted with respect to the top lead of the belt 22 for reasons to he hereinafter referred to, I connect the sections with said frame 20 by means of adjusting screws 29*.

The section is stationary so that it will move with the frame 20, adjustment of the latter being provided for through the screws 29 which work through a bracket plate 29 I carried by said frame." The dou'gh, when it leaves the rollers 37 and 38, is only partly flattened. All'of the gas is not evacuated from the dough" and additional pressure must be fbrought against the dough so as: to finish "the flattening operation and further evacuate the gas therefrom. TI accordingly provide said screw means 29 which may be operated to move thefixed section 25 of the frame respectively toward and away from the flattening roller 13. If the dough is soft and tender, very slight pressure need be applied thereto to evacuate the gas therefrom. l/Vhen the dough is stilf and tough, it is necessary that greater pressure be applied thereto,and in this instance the frame 20 ismoved at the screws29 so asto decrease the size of thespacebetween The. section 26 is loosely mounted on the frame 20 and can be independently'adjusted in avertical direction by its screw means 29.

lVhen the flattened massof dough reaches a pointmidway between the sections 26and 27,

it is only partly molded, and the tightening u'pprocess, so to speak, begins at this point.

Before the load finishes'tighteningup, I desire to bring enough pressure against the loaf to cause it to be drawn out to the. desired length. 'If pressure is brought against the loaf at this point, the loaf willbe satisfactorilylengthened in a manner that will not tear or break the skin ofthe dough. I accordingly provide for independentadjustment of said section26.

When the board 54 is employed in the manufacture ofpoi-ntedloaves, the mass of dough entering midway between the secti'ons 26 and 27 us at the lowest point ofthe board 54 and same is only partly molded; By adjusting sections 26 and 27 upward toward said board 54, I bring same in such relatively close positions that will result in a; satisfactory lengthening of theloaf, and I can make "the ends of thevloaf as pointed as desired. this manner, I can control the shaping of the ends with great choice and accuracy, and same can be done with dispatch. By this independent ndjustment of the two sections 26 and 27, various shapes and-lengths will be given the finished loaf.

superposed with respect 'to the board 26 is a top mold board or surface 30 (see Figure removably and adjustably mounted in; bearings3l and associated with clamping means 3g'whereby adjustments of the-top boardmay be fixed with respect tosaid lower board; The rear end of the top board overhangs the roller 21, while the opposite end thereof terminates mediallyof said lower board.

Mounted in the main frame dust box 23 open at its side toward the-roller 22 so that flour may be automatically brought against the belt 22 as the latter functions to advance its top lead over said board 26. A scraper blade 34 co-acts-with roller 22*[0 remove thesurplus fiour from the belt. This bladeis yieldin'gly advanced against the belt as it moves over thesaidroller 2:2, and to- 1 ward this end I find it expedient to join said blades to a leaf spring 35 mounted on said frame 20.

superposed-with respect tothe roller 22 is a hopper 36 and co acting therewith are mating dough-flattening rolls 37 and 38 which act to pull a batch of dough therebetween;

evacuate the gas therefrom, and finally deposit the flattened strip upon said carrier belt. These rolls are mounted to be positively driven and same extend into dust'boXes 39 wherein scraper blades 40 and 41 are included and adapted to co-act with said rolls to keep same free from particles of dough and permit the intended mass of dough to work past the rolls without interference.

In front of the rolls 37 and 38-is a spice or oil hopper 42 and co-acting therewith is a singleflattening roll 43,-the-latter disposed directly over the section-25 of the bottom mold board 26.

Interposed between the roll 43 and the inner end of the top mold board 30 is a dough coiling mechanism 44!, the latter being removably supported upon the main frame 20. This mechanism comp-rises a head 4-5- haying a face 46 which is inclined-upward toward the adjacent end of the board 30. Hung from this face 46 are hinge elements or knockers 47 of graduated lengths with respect to said face. All of these elements extend for the same distance toward the upper lead of the carrier belt and secured in each of said elements at its lower edge isa weightor suitable heavy rod or the like 48-. The front end of B said head is provided with a scraper blade 4:8 which bears against the. roll 4:3, asshown in Figure 7. These hinge elements may be formed of any suitable well .known material and in practice I have found canvas very appropriate for this purpose.

Onreference to Figure 7 ofthe drawings,

it will be observed that the said knockers 47, aside from being arranged in a, straight row, are so spaced apart with respect to each other that when theidough is brought to engage with one knocker, the latter will swing in the direction of the next succeeding knocker, whereby the dough is made to accept the combined effect of a' plurality of knockers. This causes a highly satisfactory compacting of the dough and insures a positive and uniform coiling thereof at all times. 'Whileth-e said knockers operate progressively or succesformer are: moved together and their combined weights are applied at the same time to the dough. In this manner, I provide'a simple and positively acting means for progressively augmenting the compacting weight from the time the dough enters the coiling mechanism until thetime of its exit therefrom.

The top mold board-30 is formed with para-llelslots 49 and fitting therein are removable dough condensing walls or member-s 50-50. These members have yield'ableiboxes 51 which co-act with the clamp means 52 to hold the lower edges of said members against thecarrier belt 22'f. By yieldingly pressing the members 5050 againstthe-belt'22 it is appreciated that they compensate themselves to adjustmentsof the respective mold boards. These members mutually define a runway for thedough to accommodate passage thereof as it leaves the coil-in g mechanism, and when the coiled 'mass' of dough is-brought to bear against the inner surfaces of saidmembers the function .of said surf-aces is to constrict and press-the mass in a longitudinal direction and flatten theends thereof, as clearly shown in Figure 8. The under surface of the board 30i's'flared at 52* sothat the runway. formed by said members 5050 is provided with an intake, throat of a gradually increasing depth. toward the highest point of the flare of said face 46 ofthe' head 45. This allows the throat to properly compensate itself to the maximum diameter of the coiled mass of dough asthelatter leaves the coiling mechanism 44. It will be seen that-due to the formation of the head of said-coilingmechanism and the :1

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f as before described; Inwardly of these slots the undersurface is formed respectively with longitudinal and transverse faces'AA and B-B, the latter being of a reduced thickness toward the longitudinal medial line of the board 54 and the former of a gradually in- V creasing thickness from the respective ends of said faces so that'the crest of each face is atC. This arrangement of faces A -A and 13 B is in duplicate and one series of faces co-acts with the other of the series so that the center of the board defines a V-shaped molding trough I). In view ofthis order of the parts, it follows that as the dough rolls'under the board, it is made to take a form which is thicker at its center than at any other part of the mass, and that the latter is provided with pointedends.

Having described the essential features which characterize my invention, its operation will be described as follows It shall be first assumed that in lieu of the board 30 in Figures 5 and 7, I employ the board shown in Figure 15. The dough carrier belt is moving in an effective conveying direction as shown by the arrow in Figure 7 A mass of dough of given weight is'then inserted in the hopper 36, where it will be pulled downward between the rolls 37 and'38 and uniformly flattened and deposited upon'the belt. It now proceeds under'the roll 43 in order that it can be either supplied with oil or spice as desired, and the dough further flattened. As stated, the coiling mechanism 44 is located directly in advance of the roll 43, and as shown, the hinge element 47 of shorter effective coiling length is disposed immediately next to this roll where it initially serves to tap or knock the front end of the dough striptostart the formation of the desired coil. The remaining elements of this coiling mechanism function in progression with each other and the flare of theunder side of the head 45 properly compensates itself to the gradually increasing thickness of the rolled dough. As the coiled dough emerges from the coiling mechanism it passes between the board 54, Figure 15, where it is first taken up or condensed in its length by action of the parallel members 5050. It then continues to move onto or against the effective mold or deforming faces of said board. As may dependupon thepositions of adjustments of the upper and lower mold boards, it is manifest that amass of dough can be attenuated to the extent desired. and that it may be made to assume a previously calculated thickness. Thismay be best understood upon reference to these-.

ries of shapes shown at E in Figure 19, I

1 \Vhen it is desired to form square end loaves or rolls, I employ'the board 30 and members 5050. These boards may be adat F, Figure 19. In either of the instances 'just referred to, I employ the coiling mechanism 44.

Whenmaking Parker-house rollsor the like wherein but one turn is given the flattened mass ofdough, Iremove the top board of the machine and feed the dough into the hopper 36as before and permit'it' to pass under the oiling orspicing roll 43. I remove the coiling mechanism 44 and as'the flattened strip of oiled or spiced dough emerges from said roll 43, it is caught by the hands of the operator and folded onitself as shown at G, Figure 19. In this case, the section 25 of the lower mold board may be adjusted in the desired relation'to the roll 43 to regulate 'the thickness and width of the rolled dough.

In making, certain pastries or the like, wherein it is simply desired to form coils as shown at 64, Figure19, I employ the coiling mechanism 44, but omit the top molding board 30 or 45. e

In order that the discharge of flour from the dust boxes 39 39 can be regulated to suit the requirements, I provide same with regulating gates 39*. similar gates 42.

I claim: i 1. In a dough handling machine a pair of relatively adjustable mold surfaces, a conveyor for moving a batch of dough between said surfaces, means for rolling the dough as it approaches said surfaces, and removably mounted means for coiling the rolled dough before entrance thereof between said sur- The box 42 is provided with faces, said coiling means being independent of the moldsurfaces and having normally means for coiling a flat strip of dough, comprising a series of flexible depending bafiles of respectively graduated lengths with re spect to a fixed surface, said bafiles having continuous weights extending entirely along their free lower edges, the weights of the re spective bafiies arranged inthe same general plane with each other and means to permit a strip of dough to successively pass from one of said bafiles to another and to be knocked thereby to wind the strip in helicoidal form.

3. In mechanism of the class described, means for coiling a flat strip of dough comprising a series of flexible bafiies arranged in row formation and in spaced relation, each of said baffles formed'of ductile material and having its extreme lower edge provided with a continuous weight and means to cause a flat strip of dough to'pass in the presence of said baflles and to successively contact therewith,

to roll same in coil form.

5. In a dough handling machine, a frame, a conveyor carried by said frame, a mold board underlying one lead of the conveyor and adjustable thereagainst, a mold board separable from the frame and normally supported above the first said mold board, and with one lead of the conveyor interposed between the two boards, a pair of co-acting rolls at one end of the conveyor, said rolls serving to permit a mass of dough to move therethrough in impinging relation thereto so as to initiallyflatten the dough and cause a part of the gas contained therein to be evacuated therefrom, and a single roll located in advance of the coacting rolls and adapted to coact with said underlying mold board to finish the dough flattening operation and further evacuate gas from the d0ugh, and means for adjusting the underlying board with respect to said single roll.

6. In a dough handling machine, a frame, a conveyor carried by said frame, a mold board underlying one lead of the conveyor and adjustable thereagainst, a mold board separable from the frame and normally supported above the first said mold board, and with one lead of the conveyor interposed between the two boards, a pair of coacting rolls at one end of the conveyor, said rolls serving to permit a massiof dough to move there through in impinging relation thereto so as to initially flatten the dough and cause a part of the gas contained therein to be evacuated thereform, a single roll located in advance of the coacting rolls and adapted to coact with said underlying mold board to finish the dough flattening operation and further evacuate the gas from the dough, means for adjusting the underlying board with respect to said single roll, and coiling means having ductile curtains depending toward said underlying board, the respective curtains of said coiling means having their extreme low er edges provided with continuous weights, said lower edges being in normal horizontal alinement relatively.

7. In a dough handling machine, a frame, a conveyor carried by said frame, a mold board underlying one lead of the conveyor and adjustable thereagainst, a mold board separable from the frame and normally supported above the first said mold board, and

with one lead of the conveyorjinterposed. be-

tween the two boards, afpair'of coacting rolls" at one end of the conveyor, said rolls. serving to permit amass of dough to move therethrough in impinging, relation thereto so as to initially flatten the dough and cause a part of the gas contained therein to be evacuated therefrom, a single roll located in advancejof the coacting rolls and adapted to coact with said underlying. mold board to finish the dough flattening operation and further evacuate gas from the dough, means for ad j'usting the underlying board with respect to said single roll, and a pair of spaced a'part relatively parallel members carried by the first said mold .board and yi'eldingly beai ing against said one lead" of the belt and adapted to constrict the length of the dough before subsequently subjecting the dough to the action of both mold boards at points rearward'ly" of said members.

8'. A machine ofthe class. described include lngan endless conveyor, a vertically adjustable frame having a mold board consisting of a fixed section movable with the frame and a plurality of independently adjustable sections adapted to be moved whenthe frame isstationary, said frame underlying the top lead of the conveyor, a second mold board overlying the top lead of the conveyor in= co-. action with the first said mold bo'ard, a pair of coacting rolls a t one end ofthec'onvey'or for flattening a mass of dough and advancing same on tosaid conveyor, and a roll overlying the fixed sectioniof the first mold board,all of said rolls and said fixed section mutually functioning to successively cause evacuation of gas from the doughvas the latter is progressively advanced by said conveyor.

9. A machine of, the class described comprising a conveyor belt, a, hopper at one end of the belt, a pair 'of coacting dough flattening and gas evacuating rolls in said hopper, means for dusting the rolls, means for scraping the rolls in advanceof the dusting means, a hopper at one sideof-the first said hopper, a flattening and gasv evacuating ton in said second hopper, means for elevating the belt against said second named roll, said adjusting means comprising a mold board underlying the top lead of the belt and consisting of a series of sections, means for independently adjusting certain of the sections against the top lead of the belt, and means for adjusting another of the sections so as to vary the size of the space between the top lead of the belt and the last named gas evacuating and dough flattening roll.

10. A dough handling machine comprising an endless conveyor, a pair of dough flattening and gas evacuatmg rolls for acting on amass of dough and delivering same in flat form to the conveyor, a second roll disposed in advance of the first said rolls, means for bringing the top lead of the belt into impingement with amass of dough passing under said second, named roll, and a coiling mechanism located immediately in advance of said secondnamed roll and provided with ,a series of parallel ductible curtains whose lower edgesare arranged in thesame general plane and positioned adjacent to the top lead of the conveyor. 7 a a 1 1. Ina dough molding machine, shaping c means including a pair of superposedspaced apart mold boards, dough flattening means, coiling mechanism between the flattening means and the adjacent end of the top board, a conyeyerco-acting with both boards of the shaping means and with the flattening means and the'said coiling means, so that dough acted upon by the flattening means will be progressively moved to the'coiling means, thence to the spacebetween thetwo moldboards, the to mold board having its under surface flare upwardly in the direction of the coiling means and the said coiling means embodying a longitudinal series of spaced apart tilting curtains of respectively'inc'reasing lengths toward the flared surface of the said top mold board.

l2. Ina dough molding machine, shaping means including a pair of superposed spaced apart vertically adjustable mold boards, 5 dough flattening means, coiling mechanism between the flattening meansv and the adja- K p cent end of the top board, a conveyer coacting with bothboards of the shaping means and withthe flattening meansand thelsaid 35 coiling means, so that doughacted upon by the flattening means will be progressively moved to the coiling meansfthence to the space between the two mold boards, the" top mold board having its under surface flared upwardlyat one end in the direction of the coili'ngmeans and the said coiling means embodying a longitudinal series of spaced apart tilting curtains of respectively increasing length toward the flared surface of the said M top mold board, and means for adjusting the mold boards relatively to vary the pressure thereof against the dough. FRANK A. SCRUGGS. 

